This funding is part of Trump’s proposed legislation called the “One Big Beautiful Bill.” While the bill does not specify what exactly is meant by “offensive cyber operations,” it indicates that the funds will primarily be directed toward strengthening the technical capabilities of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, which operates in the Asia-Pacific region — particularly in relation to China.
Interestingly, this decision comes alongside a $1 billion cut from the country’s cybersecurity and defense budget, despite the fact that the U.S. has recently faced increasing cyberattacks from China and other countries.
Senator Ron Wyden, a Democrat and member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, strongly criticized the move, stating that the Trump administration has left the country more vulnerable to foreign hackers by cutting funding for cybersecurity. He noted that the budget of the U.S.'s main cybersecurity agency, CISA, has been reduced, hundreds of employees were laid off, and only a small portion of these decisions has since been reversed.
In a statement to TechCrunch, Wyden said:
“This decision puts not only federal agencies but also hospitals, municipalities, and private companies at risk — institutions that are not equipped to defend against state-level cyberattacks.”
“Offensive cyber operations” generally refer to actions such as infiltrating adversary systems, collecting sensitive data, or exploiting software vulnerabilities to gain control. These operations may also involve the deployment of spyware, surveillance of internet traffic, or building infrastructure to support cyberattacks.
The White House and the Department of Defense have declined to comment on the matter.
